Ukrainian forces shell Donetsk’s western outskirts from Grad systems — media
53 mines were also fired at the settlements of Spartak and Zhabichevo in Donetsk’s northern outskirts over the last night, an informed source says
MOSCOW, November 6. /TASS/. Ukrainian forces have shelled the Staromikhaylovka settlement to the west of Donetsk and settlements of Spartak and Zhabichevo to the north of the city, an informed source told Donetsk News Agency on Friday.
"Around 8pm on November 5, Ukrainian Armed Forces opened fire from Grad [multiple rocket launcher systems] at the Staromikhaylovka settlement. Around three volleys were made, and fire was also opened from small arms. Around this time, the shelling of Zhabichevo and Spartak started and continued until 5am," the source said.
The northern outskirts of Donetsk were shelled from mortars of 82mm caliber, he noted.
Moreover, Ukrainian forces have fired 53 mines at the settlements of Spartak and Zhabichevo in Donetsk’s northern outskirts over the last night, the source added.
"Over the last night Ukrainian forces fired 53 mines of 82mm caliber at the settlements of Spartak and Zhabunki," the source said.
At the meeting of the Contact Group in Minsk on August 26, the participants confirmed their plans to ensure ceasefire in Donbas from September 1. Over the last weeks, only few violations of ceasefire regime were registered in Donbas. Observing ceasefire by both sides is one of the main conditions for completing withdrawal of weaponry of less than 100mm caliber from the contact line in Donbas.
The Minsk accords were signed on February 12, after negotiations in the so-called "Normandy format" in the Belarusian capital Minsk, bringing together Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
The Minsk accords envisage ceasefire, weaponry withdrawal, prisoner exchange, local election in Donbass, constitutional reform in Ukraine and establishing working sub-groups on security, political, economy and humanitarian components of the Minsk accords.
The Ukrainian forces and the self-defense forces of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk republics have repeatedly accused each other of violating ceasefire and other points of the Minsk agreements.